DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0

About: This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the global burden of AMR, as well as an evaluation of the availability of data. AMR is a leading cause of death around the world, with the highest burdens in low-resource settings. Understanding the burden of AMR and the leading pathogen–drug combinations contributing to it is crucial to making informed and location-specific policy decisions, particularly about infection prevention and control programmes, access to essential antibiotics, and research and development of new vaccines and antibiotics. There are serious data gaps in many low-income settings, emphasising the need to expand microbiology laboratory capacity and data collection systems to improve our understanding of this important human health threat.

Authors: Christopher JL Murray Kevin Shunji Ikuta Fablina Sharara Lucien Swetschinski et al.

Commentary by Ramanan Laxminarayan, founder and director of the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) and GARDP Board Chair